Is It Time for the Blue Jays To Move George Springer Down the Order?

There is comfort in predictability. For the Toronto Blue Jays, that comfort has long extended to the lineup. Under manager John Schneider, much like during the most stable years of Cito Gaston’s tenure, the batting order is not something players walk into the clubhouse guessing about. It is set, it is trusted, and for years it has worked.

But the thing about consistency is that it only holds when the results justify it.

Through the first 67 games of the season, the Jays sit at 32–35. Their offensive production has reflected that stagnant status. The Blue Jays are scoring 4.09 runs per game, which places them in the bottom third of the league. Their team slash line of .249/.312/.375 does little to suggest a dominant lineup, even if there are pieces performing at a high level.

A lot of factors went into the team’s magical run last season, but there is little doubt that George Springer played a big role. After a down year in 2024, Springer seemed to return to his former self last season. He has always been the prototypical modern leadoff hitter: power, experience, a willingness to grind out at-bats, and a reputation built on postseason moments have made him a fixture in that role.

This year, not only has his output returned to earth, but the attributes that once made him such an effective leadoff hitter have simply not been there. Springer is hitting just .202 with five home runs and 14 runs batted in through his first 46 games of the season. His on-base percentage sits at .283, and his OPS checks in at .626. Those numbers aren’t catapulting this offense anywhere.

It is clear that Springer's legendary toughness is working against him, as playing through a broken toe is visibly disrupting his mechanics and taking its toll. Instead of forcing him to push through the discomfort in the most highly exposed spot in the order, it might be time for a return to the IL. Not only would a temporary reset allow him to heal properly and find his mojo, but it would clear a roster spot for surging rookies like Yohendrick Piñango or Brandon Valenzuela once Addison Barger and Alejandro Kirk return.

The arithmetic behind a lineup change is simple: The leadoff spot receives roughly 60 to 75 more plate appearances over the course of a full season than hitters further down the order. It is not just about who starts the game, it is about maximizing your best offensive weapons. The Blue Jays, for all their adherence to consistency, are not blind to these realities. They have experimented at times in 2026, albeit in small doses. But those experiments have felt more like temporary adjustments than a genuine willingness to rethink the structure.

What makes the current situation particularly interesting is that the rest of the lineup offers high-upside alternatives. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., for example, has been exactly the type of hitter you want near the top of the order. He is batting .282 with a .372 on-base percentage and 38 runs scored. His ability to get on base and control at-bats stands in stark contrast to Springer’s struggles. Guerrero is not the traditional speed-first leadoff hitter, but that is increasingly irrelevant in today’s game. The goal is traffic on the basepaths, and Guerrero has been providing exactly that.

Meanwhile, Ernie Clement is quietly putting together one of the most consistent offensive seasons on the team, carrying a .309 average and an impressive .801 OPS. Nathan Lukes is hitting .313 with a .361 on-base percentage in limited action.

Deploying Guerrero out of the leadoff spot, for example, would maximize his elite on-base skills, but it requires a tactical shift lower down. Considering Guerrero still hasn’t fully found his home run swing, batting him first creates a desperate need for contact and power immediately behind him. Following Vlad with high-contact bats like Clement or Lukes keeps pressure on opposing pitchers, while allowing middle-of-the-order run producers like Kazuma Okamoto or the rookies to clear the bases. If the sequence is optimized, the lineup immediately becomes more dynamic.

Right now, the status quo just isn’t working. Springer has been a below-average hitter so far this season, as illustrated by his wRC+ of 78, which is well below the league-average benchmark of 100. His OBP and wOBA are more than 100 points below where he finished last season.

Schneider can frame moving Springer down as an optimization of his strengths. In a lower-pressure spot, he could focus more on driving the ball and less on setting the tone. At the same time, moving a higher on-base hitter to the top could result in fewer games where the Jays need to come from behind.

The Jays have been looking better over the past couple of weeks, but they still can’t seem to find consistency. Far too many games are seeing the Jays not showing life until the fifth or sixth inning. Sure, pitching has been weathering the storm, but eventually, it won’t. Then what?

The Jays need to find some offensive life, and right now, that is not George Springer.

The Blue Jays have spent the first half of 2026 searching for sustained offensive rhythm. They have the pieces. The underlying talent is evident. But the alignment has not quite clicked, and the top of the order is a logical place to start. Flip a couple of names and see how the lineup responds.

Consistency is a powerful tool. It builds trust and fosters confidence. But in baseball, as in anything else, it can also be a barrier. When the results stop, adjustments are needed.

It feels like the Jays are approaching that point. If they are serious about turning an up-and-down season into something more, the conversation about Springer and the leadoff spot cannot remain theoretical much longer.